Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the House will not take up a resolution honoring Michael Jackson.

WASHINGTON (CNN) –The House of Representatives will not take up a resolution honoring the late entertainer Michael Jackson, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday.

Pelosi called Jackson "a great, great performer" and acknowledged there is "lots of sadness." But the speaker said at a press conference that while members could express their sympathy on the House floor, she added "I don't think it's necessary" to pass a resolution.

"A resolution, I think, would open up (debate) to contrary views that are not necessary at this time to be expressed in association with a resolution whose purpose is quite different," Pelosi explained.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who spoke at the memorial service for Jackson on Tuesday in Los Angeles, has introduced HR 600, "Honoring an American legend and musical icon."

The resolution states, "Whereas Michael Jackson was not only an accomplished recording and performing artist, he was a noted humanitarian."

soundoff(308 Responses)

Funny for Pelosi to talk about MJ, she might be the only person on the planet who has had more plastic surgery than the gloved one.

July 9, 2009 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |

ct

THANK YOU NANCY...!! HE was great, but not worthy of this..he had a a past that was questionable...others where just as great..he was just one of many.

July 9, 2009 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |

TooMuchMJ

Finally it Ends... The government does something right...I want to know why the Jackson Family doesn't foot the huge bill for the hoopla out in LA. But then again... Socialism

July 9, 2009 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |

Willy Brown

Awl come on Nancy. You're the democrats. You love crap like this.

July 9, 2009 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |

Ruth Cahall

this is the first bright thing you have done since you came to Washington.

July 9, 2009 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |

JPete52

I am really sadden after reading this article. Pelosi is always off base and this really shows that!! MJ was a lot of things as are we all, but he was never convicted of anything in a court of law and that is good enough for me, The man is an icon and has contributed more to the world and humanity than Rep. King who has come out of no where with his criticism. Pelosi should not bow to this kind of slander. Be a leader and STAND UP for a change!!!!

July 9, 2009 03:40 pm at 3:40 pm |

Trade Freedom for Security, Lose Both

That this was even considered by Congress shows what a celebrity worshipping culture we have become.

July 9, 2009 03:41 pm at 3:41 pm |

Phil

Peter King must go! Contribute to his defeat!

July 9, 2009 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

Tony Winston

You white people will never change, this just shows , you all are still red necks , that's why you should fight your own wars .

July 9, 2009 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

cal

Strangely torn. First time, she said something intelligent by my standards. But by democraps standards, she'd have to consider herself a racist. If the ALCU or the reverend doesn't call racism, it means democrats are never racist no matter what they say or do.

July 9, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

NIKKI, SACRAMENTO CA

I think Pelosi is scared of the back lash she will get if she lets the Resolution pass through the house. I think people should be thanked for the good they have done, but because who he is it will never be done. But don't worry his greatest reward will come from God.

July 9, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Rick

We should probably wait until the guy is cold in the ground before we canonize him for sainthood, call for his face on a stamp, decide he should be on the currency or demand his birthday be the next national holiday. By next week we'll all be chasing the next big celebrity story and soon he will fade away like all celebrities.

July 9, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Wanderer

I was also Michael’s fan and liked his music, but I totally agreed with Ms. Pelosi. Michael Jackson was an extraordinary performer and entertainer. A good entertainer is not a hero. A hero is not necessarily a good politician. A good politician is not necessarily a leader. A leader is by no mean saint or prophet. A saint or prophet is by no mean God. God is by no mean understood by human brain. It would be a waste for a resolution of this purpose i.e. "Honoring an American legend and musical icon”.

July 9, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Thomas

The man is dead. We had the memorials. Can we please get on with our lives.

I don't think there was this much ballyhoo when former Presidents die.

Jackson is dead. Get on with your lives!

July 9, 2009 03:45 pm at 3:45 pm |

CRob

Does this Congress not have anything better to do? MJ was great, but someone please tell me what a resolution would do to help people get jobs or get the economy back on track. I say we vote out all incumbents, Repub and Dems both.

July 9, 2009 03:46 pm at 3:46 pm |

joe smith

now only if ms pelosi had enough courage to demand the report from Freddie Mac be made available to the President, and the American people, for whom she is supposed to be working..afterall, this report was to be made public in May,2009..how is it these keepers of the keys, continually fail to measure up..

July 9, 2009 03:46 pm at 3:46 pm |

Guard Pilot

I can't believe it, I actually agree with Nancy for a change! Don't we have anything better to do than deal with someone who in the end was just a entertainer? People who do important things die every day with out the honor given to Jackson. He entertained, but did not make a real contribution to anything substantial.

July 9, 2009 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

KMC

The speaker did the prudent thing.

Jackson's wonderfulness has been greatly exaggerated and overblown. There are many former great black entertainers who preceded him, with but minor or modest recognition at their passing, (Nat king Cole, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, etc, etc)

His last album was some 9 years ago and it bombed (where were all the admirers then?? His last hit was 18 years ago!! Prior to his passing, when was the last time anyone heard a song of his on the radio?? He did acheive greatness and iconic status, but really in a very narrow time frame and style of singing and performing

When John Lennon was murdered the coverage was but a few days and he had just delievered a comeback hit after a 5 year hiatus to raise his son

July 9, 2009 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

worried

Kelby, you are right; the first woman Speaker under the first black President, is being discriminatory, not smart. WRONG.

Anyone who is mad that this didnt happen needs to learn what is really important in the world. Not a memorial, that already costs taxpayers millions.

July 9, 2009 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

Joe

Thank God for common sense...

July 9, 2009 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

Ceceile is an idiot

Ceceile, leave the race-baiting off of this discussion. Why is the race card always played when a minority doesn't get the treatment preferred by other minorities? Remember, Pelosi was a steadfast and loyal Obama supporter.

Obama won because he is black. End of story, so get over the fact that the House won't pass a resolution.

July 9, 2009 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

Miss Dee

Rep. Peter King was wrong, and should be spoken to and make a public apology. Whatever any one's feelings and/or comment was, it was inappropriate on the day of a Memorial Service and funeral. Congress is to make an example of the right and wrong human factors especially in our United States. Did we forget our manors? What about his three(3) children, to hear that? And, did you not do your homework to find out that he is innocent? How dare you. How dare you use your title as a Rep. Senator!! Shame, shame and more shame.

July 9, 2009 03:48 pm at 3:48 pm |

blaster

I think Congress has bigger fish to fry.

July 9, 2009 03:48 pm at 3:48 pm |

19chuckles42

Madam Speaker, thank you for a change. We all know Michael Jackson had millions of fans but Congress needs to stay focused on what they were elected to do.

July 9, 2009 03:49 pm at 3:49 pm |

Rick

Let's see... he didn't write any of his songs, he didn't play an instrument, he didn't invent anything worthwhile, Bill and Melinda gates have given away 100 times as much money as him... Let's face it, his contribution to society is that he taught us how to do the 'moonwalk'.

One of the more laughable comments I heard was a guy on O'Reilly who said that he was the greatest child prodigy ever – more talented than Mozart! People who lack historical perspective crack me up.